To The Word – Day 9

₁Wenjenjeya uYakobi kuhambo lwakhe, wada waya kufika kwilizwe leentlanga zasempumalanga. ₂Wafika kumthombo owawusendle, kukho imihlambi emithathu yeegusha, zithe ncwaba zingqengqe kufuphi nawo. Le mihlambi yayikhelelwa amanzi kuloo mthombo uliso ligqunywe ngelitye. ₃Yayisithi yakuthontelana apho imihlambi, abelusi baliqengqe elo litye, bayikhelele amanzi, babuye balibuyisele elo litye, livale umthombo lowo.

₄Wafika wababuza abelusi uYakobi, wathi: “Bafondini, nisuka phi?”

Bathe: “Sivela eHaran.”

₅Uthe: “Niyamazi uLabhan, umzukulwana kaNahore apho?”

“Siyamazi,” batshilo ukuphendula.

₆“Usaphila kodwa?”

“Ewe, usaphila. Nantso selisiza intombi yakhe uRakeli kunye nomhlambi wakhe.”

₇Uthe uYakobi: “Ingekabi loxesha lakuphethula imihlambi emadlelweni nje eli, kutheni ningazisezi nje ezi gusha, niziyeke zitye?”

₈Baphendula bathi: “Asinakuyenza loo nto ingekapheleli imihlambi. Kufuneka yonke ibekho, ukuze siwuvule umthombo, siyiseze.”

₉URakeli wafika nowakhe umhlambi esathetha nâbo belusi uYakobi. ₁₀UYakobi akubona uRakeli eqhuba imihlambi kaninalume uLabhan, waya kuliqengqa ilitye, wazipha amanzi iigusha. ₁₁Wandula wamanga uRakeli, elila luvuyo. ₁₂Wathi kuRakeli: “Ndiyazalana noyihlo; ndizalwa nguRabheka kaloku.”

Wabaleka waya kuxelela uyise uRakeli; ₁₃wathi noyise akuziva ezi ndaba zingomtshana wakhe uYakobi, waya kumhlangabeza wamgona, wamanga, wamngenisa endlwini. Uthe uLabhan akubaliselwa nguYakobi izinto ezenzekileyo, ₁₄wayingqina into yokuba bayazalana. Wahlala apho inyanga yonke uYakobi.

₁₅Wathi uLabhan kuYakobi: “Akunako ukusebenza nje simahla apha kum ngenxa yokuba sizalana. Ufuna ndikunike malini?”

₁₆ULabhan wayeneentombi ezimbini, inguLeya igama lenkulu, encinci inguRakeli. ₁₇ULeya wayetsho ngamehlo angathi anengcume; uRakeli yena eyinzwakazi kanobomi. ₁₈UYakobi wayencwase uRakeli, waza wathi kuLabhan: “Ndokusebenzela iminyaka esixhenxe ukuba unokundivumela ndizeke intombi yakho encinci uRakeli.”

₁₉ULabhan uthe: “Ndikhetha ukumendisela kuwe kunokuba aye kwendela komnye umntu.” Watsho esithi makaselehlala apho kwakhe uYakobi. ₂₀UYakobi waphangela isixhenxe sonke seminyaka, esebenzela ukufumana uRakeli. Lonke elo xesha laba ngathi ziintsuku nje ezimbalwa kuye, kuba wayemthanda uRakeli.

₂₁“Lifikile ixesha; ndikhululele umkam,” watsho uYakobi kuLabhan. ₂₂ULabhan wenza isidlo somtshato, wamema bonke abantu balapho. ₂₃Ngobo busuku uLabhan wasa uLeya kuYakobi endaweni kaRakeli, uYakobi walala naye. ₂₄ULabhan wakhupha uZilipha isicakakazi, wayimpelesi kaLeya. ₂₅UYakobi akazange aqonde ukuba nguLeya lo wayelele naye, kude kwakusasa. Uye kuLabhan uYakobi, wafika wathi: “Yintoni le undenze yona? Bendisebenzela ukufumana uRakeli nje, undiqhathele ntoni?”

₂₆Uthe uLabhan: “Asilosiko lethu ukwendisa intombi encinci, ingekendi endala. ₂₇Linda ke khe kudlule le veki yomtshato, ndikwendisele uRakeli ke xa uya kuphinda usebenze iminyaka esixhenxe.”

₂₈Wavuma ke uYakobi, yathi yakudlula loo veki yomtshato uLabhan wamendisela kuYakobi noRakeli. ₂₉ULabhan wakhupha isicakakazi uBhiliya waba yimpelesi kaRakeli. ₃₀Wamambatha uRakeli uYakobi, wamthanda nangaphezu koLeya. Wasebenza eminye iminyaka esixhenxe.

₃₁Akubona *uNdikhoyo ukuba uLeya akathandwa, wampha inzala, wamvala yena uRakeli. ₃₂Wakhawula uLeya, wazala umntwana oyinkwenkwe, wathi nguRubhen igama lakhe, kuba wayesithi: “UNdikhoyo ulubonile usizi lwam; ngoku ndiza kuthandwa ngumyeni wam.” ₃₃Waphinda wazala omnye umntwana oyinkwenkwe, wathi yena nguSimon, esithi: “UNdikhoyo undiphe lo mntwana ngenxa yokuba evile ukuba andithandwa.”

₃₄Uphinde wazala enye inkwenkwe, wathi le nguLevi, kuba wayesithi: “Ndiya kudityaniswa nendoda yam ngakumbi kuba ndizele amakhwenkwe amathathu.” ₃₅Uphinde ngenye inkwenkwe kwakhona, wathi yona nguJuda, kuba wayesithi: “Ndiyambonga uNdikhoyo kwesi sihlandlo.” Emva koko wapheza ukuzala.

₁URakeli wayengekazali mntwana wonke lo gama. Waba nobukhwele ngodade wabo, wavakala esithi kuYakobi: “Ndiphe abantwana; kungenjalo ndisuke ndife kunale nto.”

₂Wacaphuka uYakobi, wathi ukuphendula: “NdinguThixo kakade mna? Uvalwe ndim, ungazali nje?”

₃Uthe uRakeli: “Nanku uBhiliya impelesi yam; ungamngeni nje, andizalele umntwana, nowam umzi wande?” ₄Wayikhulula ke impelesi yakhe, wayinika umyeni wakhe, wayambatha. ₅Wakhulelwa uBhiliya, wazala umntwana oyinkwenkwe. ₆Wathi uRakeli: “UThixo undigwebele; usivile isicelo sam, wandipha unyana.” Wathi ke igama laloo mntwana nguDan. ₇Waphinda wakhawulwa uBhiliya, wazala enye inkwenkwe kwakhona. ₈Wathi uRakeli: “Ndizamene gqitha nodade wethu, kodwa ngoku ndimoyisile.” Wathi ke igama laloo nkwenkwe nguNafetali.

₉Uthe ke uLeya akuziqonda ukuba akasazali, wanika uYakobi impelesi yakhe uZilipha ukuba ibe liqadi lakhe. ₁₀Wazala inkwenkwe uZilipha. ₁₁Wathi uLeya: “Ndisikelelekile.” Wathi ke igama layo nguGadi. ₁₂UZilipha wazala enye inkwenkwe. ₁₃Wathi uLeya: “Andisavuyi ngako! Nabanye abafazi baza kuthi ndiyavuya.” Kwathiwa ke loo nkwenkwe nguAshere.

₁₄Xa kwakuvunwa ingqolowa, uRubhen wafumana imithuma yentando emasimini, wayisa kuLeya unina. URakeli wathi kuLeya: “Khawundiphe emithumeni leyo ifunyenwe ngumntwanakho.”

ULeya wathi: ₁₅“Yho! Hleli nje, kanti akwanelanga kukuhlutha indoda yam! Ngoku selufun' ukundihlutha nemithuma le yomntwanam!”

Wathi uRakeli: “Kanti ungalala naye ngokuhlwanje uYakobi, ukuba uyandipha.”

₁₆Ukufika kukaYakobi, evela emasimini ngokuhlwa, uLeya wamkhawulela, wafika wathi: “Uza kulala nam ngokuhlwanje, kuba ndikuthenge ngemithuma yomntwanam.” Walala noLeya ke ngoko kuhlwa uYakobi.

₁₇UThixo wayiva imithandazo kaLeya, wakhawula, waphinda wazala enye yesihlanu inkwenkwe. ₁₈Wathi: “UThixo uyandibuyisela kuba impelesi yam ndiyinikele kumyeni wam.” Wathi ke loo nkwenkwe nguIsakare. ₁₉Wakhulelwa, waphinda wazala enye inkwenkwe uLeya, eyesithandathu ngoku. ₂₀Wathi: “UThixo undiphe isipho esihle; umyeni wam kuya kunyanzeleka ukuba andixabise, ndizele amadoda amathandathu nje.” Wathi ke loo nkwenkwe nguZebhulon. ₂₁Emva koko wazala intombi, wathi yona nguDayina.

₂₂UThixo wamva uRakeli, wayiphendula imithandazo yakhe, wamvula wazala. ₂₃Wakhawula, wazala inkwenkwe. Wathi: “UThixo ulisusile ihlazo lam.” ₂₄Wathi ke igama layo nguJosefu, esithi: “Wanga uNdikhoyo angandongezela kwaenye inkwenkwe.”

₂₅Emva kokuvela kukaJosefu, uYakobi wathi kuLabhan: “Ndikhulule, khon' ukuze ndibuyele kowethu. ₂₆Ndinike abafazi bam nabantwana bam endibasebenzeleyo, ndihambe. Uyakwazi ukubulaleka kwam ndikusebenzela.”

₂₇Wathi uLabhan: “Mandiyithethe yona into yokuba ndityhilelwe ukuthi ndihlumé ndatsho ndasisinhanha ngenxa yokuba *uNdikhoyo ekusikelele. ₂₈Ndixelele umvuzo owufunayo nje wena, ndikunike.”

₂₉Uthe uYakobi: “Wazi kakuhle indlela ebendisebenza ngayo, nento yokuba yande kangakanani na imfuyo yakho ebisaluswa ndim lo. ₃₀Laa mbinana wawunayo ukufika kwam, yande kakhulu, yaye noNdikhoyo ebekuthamsanqelisa ngenxa yam. Nam ngoku ndifuna ukusebenzela intsapho yam.”

₃₁“Ndikuhlawule ntoni?” ubuzile uLabhan.

Uthe uYakobi: “Andifuni ntlawulo. Ndiza kuhlala ndiyaluse imihlambi yakho, ukuba nje siyavumelana ngale ndawo. ₃₂Namhlanje ndiza kuya phaya emhlambini, ndifike ndiwakhethe onke amatakane amnyama nazo zonke iibhokhwe ezingcitha. Kuphela komvuzo endiwufunayo ke lowo. ₃₃Kuya kuba lula ke kamva ukuqonda xa ndibile. Uya kuthi uqonde ngaloo nto ke xa uze kuhlola ukuba ndibile na: xa uthe wafika ndingenazo iibhokhwe ezingcitha, kungekho nagusha imnyama, uya kwazi ukuba ndibile.”

₃₄Uthe uLabhan: “Sivene ke, mfo. Masenjenjalo ke.” ₃₅Kwangaloo mhla uLabhan wazahlula emihlambini zonke iinkunzi zeebhokhwe ezingcitha, kwakunye nezeegusha ezimnyama. Wathi mazaluswe ngoonyana bakhe, ₃₆bemka nawo loo mhlambi umgama owawunokuthathwa ngeentsuku ezintathu. UYakobi yena wasala neminye imihlambi kaLabhan.

₃₇UYakobi wagawula iipali ezisemanzi zepampiri, nezom-almondi, kunye nompleyini. Wazixoza amaxolo, kwavela iindawo ezimhlophe. ₃₈Wazigxumeka emijelweni kwezo ndawo kusela kuzo imihlambi. Loo nto wayenza kuba iinkunzi zazikhwela xa zize kusela. ₃₉Ezo mazi zeebhokhwe zazikhwelwa ngaphambi kwezo pali zazala amatakane angcitha.

₄₀UYakobi wazahlula iigusha ezibhokhweni, wazijongisa ngakweziya zingcitha. Wawenza ngolu hlobo ke owakhe umhlambi, wawahlula kokaLabhan.

₄₁Xa zikhwelwa iimazi ezomeleleyo, uYakobi wayedla ngokumisa ezo pali phambi kwazo kuloo ndawo yokusela, ukuze zizalele phantsi kwezo pali. ₄₂Kodwa imigqutsuba wayengayizisi yona phantsi kwezo pali. Kungekudala ekaLabhan imihlambi yaba yile iyimigqutsuba, ekaYakobi yona yaba yile yomeleleyo. ₄₃Wahluma, watyeba ngaloo ndlela ke uYakobi. Waba nemihlambi emininzi, nezicaka, iinkamela, needonki.

₁UYakobi weva ukuba oonyana bakaLabhan bathi uzithathe zonke izinto zikayise, yaye nobu butyebi bakhe ubuzuze ngezinto zikayise. ₂Waphawula nokuba akasathandwa nguLabhan. ₃*UNdikhoyo wathi kuYakobi: “Buyela kwilizwe looyihlo-mkhulu, kumawenu. Mna ndiya kuba nawe.”

₄UYakobi ke wathumela ukuba kubizwe uRakeli noLeya ukuba beze kuye endle apho wayesalusa khona imihlambi. ₅Uthe kubo: “Ndiyabona ukuba uyihlo akasandithandi ngoku; ukanti uThixo kabawo ubesoloko enam. ₆Nazi kakuhle nobabini indlela ebendimsebenzela ngayo uyihlo. ₇Kodwa yena wandiqhatha, wawuguqu-guqula umvuzo wam kalishumi. Kodwa uThixo akavumanga ukuba andenzakalise. ₈Ubesakuthi uLabhan akuthi ezinamachaphaza ziya kuba zezam, zisuke zonke zizale amatakane anamachaphaza. Kuthi akuthi ziya kuba zezinemizila ezam, zisuke zonke zizale amatakane anemizila. ₉UThixo uyihluthile imfuyo kayihlo, wayinika mna.

₁₀“Ngexesha ekwakukhwelwa iimazi ndaba nephupha: ndaphakamisa amehlo, ndabona iinkunzi zeebhokhwe ezazikhwela iimazi, zingcitha, zingcaka. ₁₁Sathi kum isithunywa sikaThixo ngephupha: ‘Yakobi!’ Ndasabela ndathi: ‘Ndim lo.’ ₁₂Sithe ke sona: ‘Phakamisa amehlo, ubone zonke iinkunzi zeebhokhwe ezikhwelayo zingcitha, zingcaka. Ndiyibonile yonke into akwenze yona uLabhan; kungoko ndisenza le nto. ₁₃Mna ndingulaa Thixo wabonakala kuwe eBhetele, apho wathambisa khona ngamafutha ilitye lesikhumbuzo, apho wawenze khona isifungo. Ngoku ke lishiye eli lizwe, ubuyele kwelakowenu.’ ”

₁₄Bathe ukuphendula ooRakeli noLeya: “Asisenabango thina kwizinto zikatata. ₁₅Usiphethe okwabantu basemzini. Wasithengisa, wayitya yaphela naloo nto wayifumana ngathi. ₁₆Ngoko ke seliyeyethu nabantwana bethu yonke loo nto uThixo asihluthele yona kutata. Yenza loo nto wena uThixo akuyalela yona.”

₁₇Kwangoko uYakobi wabakhwelisa ezinkameleni abafazi bakhe noonyana bakhe. ₁₈Wayiqhuba yonke loo mihlambi wayifumana ePadan-aram, wenjenjeya ukusinga kuyise uIsake eKanana. ₁₉ULabhan wayeye kucheba iigusha zakhe. Lo gama angekhoyo uRakeli waya kuba *imilonde-khaya kuyise. ₂₀UYakobi yena wamkhohlisa uLabhan ngokungamazisi uLabhan ukuba uyemka. ₂₁Wathatha konke okwakhe, wemka ngokungxama. Waya kuwela umlambo iEfrati, wenjenjeya ejonge kweleenduli eGiliyadi.

₂₂Emva kweentsuku ezintathu uLabhan weva ukuba uYakobi ubalekile. ₂₃Wahamba nezihlobo zakhe, basukela iintsuku zada zasixhenxe, bamfumana kwezo nduli zeGiliyadi. ₂₄Ngobo busuku uThixo wavela ngephupha kuLabhan, wathi: “Uze ulumke, ungathethi nto kuYakobi konke, nenjani na.” ₂₅ULabhan wafika uYakobi emise kwezo nduli zeGiliyadi, waza yena namadoda awayehamba nawo wemisa kwalapho.

₂₆ULabhan wathi kuYakobi: “Yintoni le uyenzileyo? Kutheni undikhohlisa nje, ude uqhube neentombi zam oku kwabathinjwa emfazweni? ₂₇Kutheni le nto usuka uzimele, ungatsho xa umkayo? Ukuba ubuxelile ngendikukhulule kakuhle, wenzelwa iingoma ngamagubu nangeehapu. ₂₈Akukhange undinike nethuba lokuba khe ndange abazukulwana bam neentombi zam, ndithi ndlela-ntle kubo. Hayi noko, bubudenge into oyenzileyo! ₂₉Ndingakwenza into embi ngoku. Kodwa phezolo uThixo kayihlo uthe ze ndingathethi nto kuwe. ₃₀Ndiyazi ukuba umkiswe kukukhumbula ikhaya, kodwa ke uyibele ntoni yona *imilonde-khaya yam?”

₃₁Uthe uYakobi: “Ndoyike ukuba undihluthe iintombi zakho. ₃₂Kodwa ke ukuba kukho umntu apha onayo imilonde-khaya yakho, maze abulawe lowo. Ngoku sikhoyo sonke khangelani nantoni na eyeyenu, niyithathe.” UYakobi wayengazi ukuba imilonde-khaya kaLabhan ibiwe nguRakeli.

₃₃ULabhan waya kukhangela ententeni kaYakobi, wadlulela nakwekaLeya, waya nakweyeempelesi zeentombi zakhe, akafumana nto apho. Wesuka apho waya ententeni kaRakeli. ₃₄URakeli wayeseleyithathile imilonde-khaya wayifaka engxoweni, wahlala phezu kwayo. Wakhangela wagqogqa yonke indawo uLabhan, akayifumana noko.

₃₅URakeli uthe kuyise: “Akuyi kukhathazeka, mhlekazi, xa ndingasukumiyo. Kaloku ndiya exesheni.” Wagqogqa uLabhan, wabuya ze nalapho engayifumananga imilonde-khaya yakhe.

₃₆UYakobi wangcangcazela ngumsindo, wathi: “Uthi yintoni le imbi ndiyenzileyo? Mthetho wuphi lo ndiwaphuleyo ukugunyazisa ukuba uzingelane nam? ₃₇Kukho nto yendlu yakho oyifumeneyo apha wakugqiba ukugqogqa umzi wam? Yirhole ibonwe ngala madoda uhamba nawo nala am, khon' ukuze alathe oyena wonileyo: indim, inguwe.

₃₈“Bendihleli nawe iminyaka engamashumi mabini. Ngalo lonke elo xesha bezizala rhoqo iibhokhwe zakho, yaye andizange nditye nanye igusha yakho. ₃₉Bendisoloko ndiyihlawula igusha nganye eqwengwe zizilwanyana. Andizange ndize nayo kuwe ndisithi asilotyala lam. Wawudla ngokuthi mandibuyise yonke into ebiweyo, nokuba kusemini, nokuba kusebusuku. ₄₀Ndanditshiswa ngamalanga emini, ndidliwa naziingqele ebusuku, kungehli nobuthongo obu, ₄₁kule minyaka imashumi mabini ndinawe. Ndasebenza ishumi elinane leminyaka, ndifuna iintombi zakho. Ndabuya ndasebenza eminye emithandathu, ndisebenzela imfuyo. Kanti ke phezu koko uwuguqu-guqule kwada kwakalishumi umvuzo wam. ₄₂Ukuba ebengenam uThixo woobawo, uThixo ka-Abraham, uThixo kaIsake, ngewandigxotha ndemka ndingaphethe nto. Kodwa ke uThixo ububonile ubunzima ebendikubo nomsebenzi wam, waza ke phezolo wandigwebela.”

₄₃Wenjenje ukuphendula uLabhan: “Ziintombi zam ezi; naba bantwana bazo ngabam; nale mihlambi yeyam; nditsho yonke le nto ilapha. Kodwa ngenxa yokuba ndingenako ukubanqanda abantwana bam, ₄₄ndingáyenza imvumelwano kunye nawe. Masithathe amatye, siwafumbe ndawonye, abe sisikhumbuzo saloo mvumelwano.”

₄₅UYakobi ke wathatha ilitye, walimisa ukuba libe sisikhumbuzo. ₄₆Wathi amadoda makaqokelele amatye, awafumbe apho. Enjenjalo ke, aza ahlala phantsi apho ngakuloo matye, atya. ₄₇ULabhan wathi loo ndawo yiJegare-saduta, uYakobi wathi yiGaledi. ₄₈ULabhan wathi kuYakobi: “Le ngqumba yamatye iya kuba sisikhumbuzo kuthi.” Yiyo loo nto loo ndawo kwathiwa yiGaledi. ₄₉ULabhan wabuya wathi: “Wanga *uNdikhoyo angasijonga naxa sesahlukene.” Yaza loo ndawo kwathiwa yiMizpa.

₅₀Waqhuba wathi uLabhan: “Ukuba ukhe wabaphatha kakubi abantwana bam, okanye wathatha bafazi bambi, nokuba andiyazanga loo nto, uzukhumbule ukuba uThixo usijongile. ₅₁Nanga la matye afunjwe apha, phakathi kwethu; nali nelitye lesikhumbuzo. ₅₂Zizombini ke ezo zinto zisisikhumbuzo. Andisoze ndidlule apha ndize kukuhlasela; nawe ungaze uzidlule uze kundihlasela. ₅₃NguThixo ka-Abraham, uThixo kaNahore, oya kusigweba.” Waza ke uYakobi wafunga egameni loMhlonitshwa kayise uIsake. ₅₄Waxhela, wenza idini apho, wamemela izihlobo zakhe esidlweni. Bakugqiba ukutya bahlala kuloo ntaba ubusuku bonke. ₅₅Kwakusasa ngengomso uLabhan wanga abazukulwana bakhe neentombi zakhe, esithi ndlela-ntle kubo, wajika wagoduka.

₁UYakobi uhambile naye, waza wahlangana nezithunywa zikaThixo endleleni. ₂Uthe akuzibona wavakala esithi: “Ngumkhosi kaThixo lo,” waza wathi loo ndawo yiManayim igama layo.

₃UYakobi wathumela izigidimi ngaphambili ukuba ziye kumntakwabo uEsawu eSeyire, e-Edom. ₄Wathi ze zithi kuye: “Mna, Yakobi, sicaka sakho, ndazisa wena, nkosi yam Esawu, ukuba bekhe ndahlala kwaLabhan, ndaza ndabambezeleka apho kwada kwakalokunje. ₅Ndiza neenkomo neegusha, iidonki neebhokhwe, kwakunye nezicaka. Ndithumela lo myalezo ke, mhlekazi, ndinethemba lokuba uya kundamkela.”

₆Ukubuya kwazo izigidimi zikaYakobi, zafika zathi: “Simbonile uEsawu umntakwenu; selesendleleni ekukhawulelayo. Uza namakhulu amane amadoda.” ₇Wothuka wakhathazeka uYakobi; waza wabahlula bangamaqela amabini abantu bakhe, ngokunjalo neegusha, neenkomo, neebhokhwe, kwaneenkamela. ₈Icebo lakhe lalikukuba kusinde eli lesibini iqela, xa athe wahlasela elokuqala uEsawu.

₉Uye wathandaza emva koko uYakobi esithi: “Thixo kabawo-mkhulu uAbraham, Thixo kabawo wam uIsake, ndive. Nguwe, *Ndikhoyo, othe mandibuyele ezweni lakowethu naphakathi kwezizalwana zam. Watsho usithi uya kuyenza mhlophe indlela yam, konke kulunge. ₁₀Ububele ondenzele bona, nokunyaniseka kwakho, akundifanele, Nkosi. Ndayiwela iJordan ndingenanto, ndiphethe umsimelelo kuphela. Ngoku ndibuya ndihamba nala maqela mabini. ₁₁Ndihlangule ke kumntakwethu uEsawu, ndiyakubongoza. Ndinoloyiko hleze asihlasele asitshabalalise sonke, umntwana nonina. ₁₂Khumbula ke ukuba wathembisa ukuba konke kondilungela, wathembisa nokuba wondipha inzala engenakubalwa bani, ebuninzi bungangobentlabathi elunxwemeni lolwandle.”

₁₃Ngengomso uYakobi wakhetha kuloo mhlambi wakhe ezo wayeza kuzipha umntakwabo uEsawu: ₁₄iimazi zeebhokhwe zaba ngamakhulu mabini, iinkunzi zangamashumi mabini; amakhulu mabini eemazi zeegusha, namashumi mabini eenkunzi zeegusha, ₁₅amashumi amathathu eemazi zeenkamela namankonyane azo; kunye namashumi mane eemazi zeenkomo, kunye neshumi leenkunzi; namashumi mabini eemazi zeedonki; kunye neenkunzi ezilishumi. ₁₆Wazahlula-hlula zayimihlambi, waza umhlambi ngamnye wakhokelwa sisicaka. Wathi mazihambe ngaphambili, zishiye isithuba phakathi komhlambi ngamnye. ₁₇Wathi kwisicaka esasingaphambili, ze sithi xa ebuza uEsawu ukuba ngaba ngubani na inkosi yaso, besiya ngaphi na, wona umhlambi lo ungokabani: ₁₈“ZezikaYakobi, isicaka sikaEsawu. Wenza ngazo isipho kuEsawu inkosi yakhe. Yena uYakobi uyalandela ngasemva.”

₁₉Wabaxelela loo nto bonke abakhokela imihlambi, owesibini nowesithathu njalo-njalo, esithi: “Nakuhlangabezana noEsawu ze nithi: ₂₀‘Ewe, isicaka sakho uYakobi siyeza ngasemva.’ ”

Icebo likaYakobi lalikukuba amenze athambe ngezo zipho uEsawu, aze xa efika yena Yakobi kuye axolelwe. ₂₁Wazindulula ke ezo zipho, waza yena walalisa apho esikhululweni ngobo busuku.

₂₂Ngobo busuku wavuka uYakobi, wahamba nabafazi bakhe bobabini, namaqadi abo, kunye nabantwana bakhe abalishumi nanye, wawuwela umlambo iJabhoko. ₂₃Akubaweza waweza nempahla yakhe yonke, ₂₄kodwa yena wasala ngasemva.

Kwafika umntu, wajijisana naye kwada kwasekuzeni kokusa. ₂₅Wathi loo mntu akubona ukuba akamngquli uYakobi, wamchukumisa enyongeni, yatsho yagungxuka endaweni yayo. ₂₆Watsho esithi: “Ndiyeke ndihambe, kuyasa.”

UYakobi wathi: “Andisobe ndikuyeke, de undithamsanqelise.”

₂₇“Ungubani igama lakho?” ubuzile loo mntu.

“NdinguYakobi,” uphendule watsho yena.

₂₈Uthe ke loo mntu: “Akusokubuya kuthiwe unguYakobi, kuba kaloku wena ujijisene noThixo kwakunye nabantu, waphumelela. Ngoko ke kuya kuthiwa unguSirayeli igama lakho.”

₂₉Uthe yena uYakobi: “Nawe ndixelele elakho igama.”

Uthe loo mfo: “Uza kulenzani igama lam?” Watsho esikelela uYakobi.

₃₀UYakobi wathi: “UThixo ndimbonile ubuso ngobuso, ndibe naku ndisaphila.” Wathi ke loo ndawo yiPeniyeli. ₃₁Laphuma ilanga xa uYakobi emkayo apho ePeniyeli. Wayeqhwalela ngenxa yenyonga egungxulekileyo. ₃₂AmaSirayeli akawutyi umsipha kasikrotyana unanamhlanje, kuba kaloku wachukunyiswa kuloo ndawo uYakobi.

₁Akuba etshilo uYesu, wakhangela phezulu, wathi: “Bawo, lifikile ngoku ixesha. Mnike iwonga uNyana wakho, aze abubonakalise ubungangamsha bakho. ₂Kaloku umnike igunya eluntwini, ukuze bonke abo umnike bona, abe nako ukubanika obona bomi bungenasiphelo. ₃Nabu ke obona bomi: kukwazana nawe, wena Thixo unguye, ingabi wumbi; bazane naye lowo uthunywe nguwe, uYesu Krestu. ₄Ndibubonakalisile ubungangamsha bakho ehlabathini; ndiwufezile umsebenzi ondithume wona. ₅Ndiwonge ke ngoku kunye nawe, Bawo, ngelo wonga ndandinalo ndikunye nawe ihlabathi lingekadalwa nokudalwa.

₆“Ndikwazisile kwabo wandinika bona ubahlula kwabehlabathi. Babengabakho, wabanika mna. Ilizwi lakho libangene. ₇Ke ngoku bayaqonda ukuba yonke into endinayo, ivela kuwe. ₈Ndilugqithisile udaba obundithume lona kubo. Baqonde kakuhle bakholwa ukuba ndivela kuwe, bavuma ukuba ndithunywe nguwe.

₉“Ndithandazela bona ke; andithandazeli abo behlabathi. Kuphela ndithandazela abo undinike bona, kuba bengabakho. ₁₀Bonke abangabam, bangabakho; yaye bonke abangabakho, bakwangabam. Nditsho ndaduma ke ngenxa yabo. ₁₁Njengoko ndisiza kuwe sendinjengongasekhoyo ehlabathini. Kambe ke bona basesehlabathini. Bakhusele, Bawo ongcwele, ngegunya legama lakho, elo wandinika lona, ukuze bahlale bebanye njengokuba mna nawe sibanye. ₁₂Oko bendikunye nabo, bendibakhusela ngegunya legama lakho, elo wandinika lona. Ndabakhusela, akwaduka namnye kubo, ngaphandle komduka lowo, owazalisekisa okuxelwe *kwiziBhalo. ₁₃Njengokuba sendiza kumka, ndize kuwe, ezi zinto ndizithetha ndisesehlabathini, ukuze baphuphume luvuyo lwam. ₁₄Ilizwi lakho ndiligqithisele kubo. Ke lona ihlabathi libathiyile, kuba bengengabo abehlabathi, njengokuba nam ndingengowalo ihlabathi. ₁₅Anditsho ukuba ubasuse ehlabathini, koko ndicela ukuba ubakhusele kongendawo. ₁₆Nanjengokuba mna ndingenguye owehlabathi, nabo abangabo abehlabathi. ₁₇Benze babe ngabakho ngayo inyaniso. Lilizwi lakho inyaniso. ₁₈Ndibathume ehlabathini njengokuba nam wandithumayo ehlabathini. ₁₉Ndizinikela kuwe ngenxa yabo, ukuze nabo babe ngabakho ngenene.

₂₀“Andithandazeli bona bodwa, koko ndithandazela nâbo baya kundivuma ngenxa yelizwi abaliva ngabo. ₂₁Nceda benze bonke babe banye. Bawo, mabamanyane nathi, njengokuba wena unto-nye nam, nam ndinto-nye nawe. Mababe yimbumba yamanyama, ukuze likholwe ihlabathi ukuba ndithunywe nguwe. ₂₂Ndibanikile nabo iwonga owandinika lona, ukuze nabo babe nto-nye, njengokuba nathi sinto-nye. ₂₃Mandihlale kubo, njengokuba wena uhleli kum, ukuze babe nto-nye ngokupheleleyo, lize ihlabathi liqonde ukuba ndithunywe nguwe, lazi ukuba bona ubathanda njengokuba undithanda mna.

₂₄“Bawo, njengoko ubanike mna nje, ndithanda ukuba babe lapho ndikhoyo, babubone ubungangamsha ondinike bona, kuba wandithanda lingekadalwa nokudalwa ihlabathi. ₂₅Bawo olilungisa, ihlabathi alikwazi. Mna ndiyakwazi, yaye naba bayaqonda ukuba ndithunywe nguwe. ₂₆Ndibazisile ngawe, ndaye ndisaya kwenjenjalo, ukuze uthando ondithanda ngalo mna lumile kubo, nam ndihlale ndimanyene nabo.”